The first round of the Malik Cup competition finally kicked off today down at the Links with the Grades Select getting the better of their opposition Aberdeen University

Grades Select 144 for 9 (N. Mirza 36, F. Awan 35; G. Tomlinson 3-9 inc hat-trick, A. Wallace 3-22) beat Aberdeen Uni 90 (G. Tomlinson 21, R van Oorschot 18; S. White 4-9, S. Hasan 4-9).

The race for the Grade 1 title is all but over as Bon Accord (206 for 8) continue their impressive 100 percent winning record led by the batting from skipper A. Win (63) and bowling from F. Awan (4 for 15), at the expense of Banchory who were skittled out for 54 despite the bowling effort from A. Starling (4 for 40). Over at Countesswells the formidable Cults total (245 for 6) led by the batting from centurion K. Laghate (102) and bowling from M. Javaid (6 for 30) proved too much for the home team as they crashed out at 135 despite the batting effort from youngster Jason Stark (43). Out of town at Kellands Park the hosts Inverurie set a total (199 for 6) that proved too much for the visitors Stonehaven who were bowled out for 147, with notable batting for Inverurie from G. Hadden (61) and T. Norval (52) and bowling from G. Coutts (4 for 25) and for Stonehaven the Batting from A. Hinchcliffe (65) and Bowling from youngster David Long Jnr (3 for 39). The hosts at Castle Road, Kintore (158) were unable to winkle out the last Ellon (148 for 9) wicket who were only 11 runs short of victory as they were held to a draw. The return of last years overseas Junior Head Coach (S. McGillewie 100no and 6 for 24) boosted the strength of the Mannofield home team as they cruised past the bottom side St Ronald’s total with 9 wickets in hand.
On Sunday Gordonians finally recorded their first win of the season, setting a total (223 for 9) led by the batting of I. Yahathugoda (62) and M. Finnie (40) and despite being restricted by the bowling for St Ronald from V. Brodie (5 for 59) and D. Singh (4-60) proved too much for the St Ronald side to chase down as they were bowled out for 111.

In Grade 2 with only two games left to play AGSFP appear to have secured pole position for promotion as they set a total of 200 for 5 led by the batting from J. Eagles (51) and with both batting and bowling from G. Miller (39no and 3 for 18) as their opponents 2^nd Banchory were skittled out for 87. The second promotion spot is less clear as only 4 percent separates the next 4 teams, with Queens Cross ahead of the chasing pack as they comfortably beat the visitors from Fraserburgh. Over at the Lairds ground Methlick set up a formidable total (282 for 2) led by the batting from S. Murphy (144no) and M. Woodhouse (71) that the struggling bottom of the table side 2^nd Kintore never looked to trouble as they were bowled out for 41. Meanwhile in town at Allan Park 2^nd Cults comfortably passed the Artisans total (158 for 6) despite a half century from S. Chisholm (54). Over at Duthie Park Caledonian’s total (184) led by the batting of A. Senthil (61) proved too much for the Balmoral visitors as they were skittled out for 94 restricted by the bowling from A. Mongotra (4 for 11).

In Grade 3 the two promotion spots look to have been secured as both, leaders (Anchorians) and runner-up (2^nd Gordonians) won their games against Academy and 2^nd Stonehaven respectively. Crescent comfortably reached the target (115) set by the 2^nd Methlick visitors leaving Crescent still within reach of the runner-up spot should 2^nd Gordonians slip up. Over at Gordon Park 2^nd Ellon were crushed by a rejuvenated Dunecht side led by the bowling of C. Harper (5 for 10) and S. Roberts (4 for 11) as they dismissed the home side for just 40 runs. Kemnay hosted Turriff who set a total (206 for 6) led by the batting of N. Smith (73) and P. Shah (46) which the host side managed to comfortably hold out for a draw led by the batting of youngsters Jordan Thom (61) and Andrew Fyffe (31).

In Grade 4 2^nd Queens Cross held onto pole position and 2^nd St Ronald held onto the runner-up position as both teams comfortably beat their opponents Portcullis and 2^nd Mannofield respectively. Over at Cowdry Park the visitors 2^nd AGSFP restricted the home side 2^nd Dunecht to a very low total (37) led by the bowling of M. Blues (4 for 1) which they comfortably cruised past. Huntly’s youngsters managed to hold on for a draw against a formidable Stoneywood-Dyce total (238 for 7) setup by the batting of J. Tindall (69) and J. Holt (48) who narrowly missed out on his half century. 

In the Johnston Cup Final 2^nd St Ronald got the better of 2^nd Queens Cross as they set a total of 250 that the Queens Cross side struggled to chase down. The man-of-the-match was awarded to A. Deep for this batting and bowling performance.

In the Reid Cup Final the 2^nd Methlick total (129) led by the batting of S. Kennedy (67) was not enough as 2^nd Ellon cruised past the total led by the batting of S. Davies (53). The man-of-the-match was awarded to S. Kenedy for this batting performance.

In the Bon Accord Cup Semi-Final the 2^nd Cults total (234) led by the batting of P. Gill (59) was too much for the 2^nd Banchory side to chase down. 2^nd Cults will now meet Queens Cross in the final scheduled for next Sunday 16^th Aug at the Inverurie Home ground Kellands Park.